A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Group

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kairi1987
kairi1987
Student
High School - 9th Grade

A Very old Man with Enormous Wings

What human shortcomings might Garcia Marquez in his story, "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings", be satirizing on how the townspeole react to the angel?

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Posted by kairi1987 on Wednesday May 6, 2009 at 9:16 PM and tagged with a very old man with enormous wings, literature, satire, shortcomings.

Answers:

  1. mr-robitaille
    mr-robitaille Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    There is quite a lot that can be said about this. First, Marquez is satirizing people's attitudes towards what should be treated as sacred. When Pelayo and Elisenda find what they believe to be an angel, their first reaction is to lock in in their chicken coop. They then charge the townspeople admission to see it, totally exploiting for their own ends what should be seen as a sign from God. The townspeople, too, act in a completely irreverent manner, poking the "angel" and making fun of it.

    Marquez is also satirizing the fickle nature of human interest. For a time, the "angel" draws large crowds of onlookers. It isn't long, however, before the crowds' interest is diverted by bigger and better entertainments.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/very-old/section-2-summary-sensation
    http://www.enotes.com/very-old/section-3-4-summary-declin...

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    Posted by mr-robitaille on Thursday May 7, 2009 at 5:42 AM